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First four-point weekend for Swindon Wildcats

WILDCATS finally notched their first four-point weekend of the season after demolishing sorry Telford last night.

The Link Centre outfit took a straightforward 8-4 victory in Telford - their biggest win of 2012/13 - against a side hamstrung by the early loss of netminder Barry Hollyhead.

The veteran departed from the action after a first-period scrap with Nicky Watt that resulted in almost every player on the ice involved in a virtual pile-on by the boards.

Youngster Brandon Stones was latterly thrust into the action and Swindon ran riot in the second period, ramming home no less than six goals on their way to victory.

Jonas Hoog hit a hat-trick while Aaron Nell and Matias Perkkio both got braces and Watt grabbed the other effort.

Perkkio, who also scored in the 5-3 win at Sheffield on Saturday, said: “It was a good weekend and we got four points, even though we didn’t play that good.

“It’s fun to score goals and that’s what I’m here to do, so I’m happy. They were two pretty lucky goals I scored, but I will take them.

“Only points matter but we have to play better next weekend (in the double-header against Bracknell) if we want to win those games. I will do my best to carry on next weekend and they are very important games for us as we are battling for the same position in the table.”

Swindon made a strong start just 41 seconds in last night, Perkkio arriving at the post to tap in before Adam Taylor replied at 7.20.

A minute before the first break Watt flew in on Hollyhead and within seconds practically every player from each side had got involved in the ruckus.

What followed in period two was madness of a different kind with eight goals scored, six of them for Swindon as they opened up a commanding 7-3 lead.

Hoog got his first goal at 20.21, before Scott McKenzie levelled (24.01).

A neat bottom-corner finish gave Hoog his second (28.07), before Watt, heckled repeatedly by the home fans, answered in perfect fashion (29.13).

Perkkio completed his brace at 32.39 and then Hoog and Aaron Nell teamed up at 35.14 and 36.59 for the latter to score twice, the first of these on the powerplay.

Some 36 seconds from time, Danny Rose got the slightest of touches onto a pass for the hosts’ third.

The third period was predictably quieter overall, although early on Hoog completed his hat-trick with a lovely wristshot off the pipes (41.06).

Jaroslav Kruzik got a consolation for the Tigers at 52.40, but by that point the match was way out of his team’s reach.

Speaking on the Watt-Hollyhead incident and the latter’s subsequent departure from the game, Wildcats head coach Ryan Aldridge said: “It probably gave us an edge to be honest with you.

“I’m not sure if Barry Hollyhead was trying to fight Watty or trying to get to the bench for the penalty.

“It wasn’t too rough, they went down pretty early and everyone got in there and held on so it wasn’t too ugly.

“Overall I don’t think we worked hard enough in certain areas and we thought it was going to be an easy game.

“I think it was more that they were a struggling side, I don’t think we played that well.

“It was a pretty ugly game of hockey, both games this weekend have been, but four points are four points.”

Ipsoregulated

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